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Hybrid View

Helmet Visors

It's about time for a new facesheild for my helmet, and I was thinking about getting something that isn't clear. I have a HJC, Has anybody ever used either the light/dark smoke faceshields or the Iridium (Reflective) color shields? pros/cons? Thanks

I've used a smoke tinted face shield with an Arai helmet. It is optically correct and works as good as sun glasses. The downside is it needs to be changed for overcast conditions and night riding. Thus, I have to carry a clear shield when using the smoke tint.

Dark face shields, besides being illegal in some jurisdictions, are dangerous at night, IME. Then again, I have growing cataracts that compromise my night vision anyway. I love 'em in the day time, but everytime I don't have my clear one in the tankbag, Murphy conspires to keep me out after dark.

My one experience with an Iridium wasn't good. Despite treating the thing with kit gloves, the coating started coming off the second time I cleaned it. With the cleaner recomended by Arai. I'll never buy another one.

I have an HJC helmet and have used the Iridium blue for about 4 years and love it. I don't have to wear sunglasses while riding. I do keep a clear one in my hard bag for those times I ride at night. I highly recommend it.

I have dark tint for my Arai and Shoei and they really help during the day, with the light and the heat. I typically keep the clear in the topcase though for dusk changes. It helps if they quick change like the Shoei.

Another vote for the tinted shield during daylight hours. I carry a clear shield in my saddlebag or my tank bag for when it starts to get dark out. On the HJC you can have them swapped out in no time flat.

A side-bonus to the tinted shield is you don't end up with that funny oval sunburn/tan that I've seen people get with clear shields

Helmet Visors

I've used the dark faceshields. They work fine during the day, but you can't ride with it at night with any degree of safety. I took the dark shield off and put a clear shield on with a Helmet Sunblocker attached to the top. It is a small strip of darkened plastic that fits at the top of the clear shield to cut down on the sun. They work great and are easily installed. They are just as easily removed without leaving a scratch on the faceshield. They are made for Arai and non-Arai helmets.

Easy
Big Empty, Texas

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time.
E. B. White, New Yorker, July 3, 1944

The advantage of using a dark shield, if you wear glasses, is that in marginal lighting conditions such as a cloudy day, you can open the shield and see fine, without having to change glasses (dark glasses to normal). Very convenient too if riding through forested areas where the road is alternately shaded and sunny. I wouldn't ride far with the shield up, or at speed, but it does give you the option of quickly raising it to get a clearer picture of the road surface when in shadowy conditions.

Down side to this is changing the dark shield to the clear shield on the Arai helmets. This little exercise usually leaves my finger tips sore and expands my vocabulary.

Down side to this is changing the dark shield to the clear shield on the Arai helmets. This little exercise usually leaves my finger tips sore and expands my vocabulary.

I've heard this repeatedly. There is a learning curve (i.e., fear threshold) when spreading the Arai faceshield to pop it off, but once over the top, you'll pop off and slip on a replacement in no time flat, even without removing your helmet.

Changing the shield on Arai helmets

There is a demonstration on the internet that describes in detail how to change the shield. If you follow the instructions it's quite easy. Go to http://www.araiamericas.com/FAQ.html# and click the bottom icon and the demonstration will come up.

Easy
Big Empty, Texas

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)